Abstract: A camera (26) takes an image of at least one user (U1, U2, U3). A room environment information sensor (13) senses room environment information relating to an environment of a room (r1) in which the at least one user (U1, U2, U3) is present. The estimator (66) estimates a drowsiness condition of the at least one user (U1, U2, U3) based on the image of the at least one user (U1, U2, U3) taken by the camera (26) and the room environment information sensed by the room environment information sensor (13).

Abstract: A camera takes an image of a user. A room environment information sensor detects room environment information about an environment in a room where the user is present. An estimation unit estimates a concentration degree of the user based on the image of the user taken by the camera and the room environment information sensed by the room environment information sensor.

Abstract: An estimation unit estimates a thermal sensation representing how hot or cold a user feels based on an image of the user taken by a camera. A control unit controls an air-conditioning operation of an air conditioner based on an estimation result of the estimation unit so that the thermal sensation falls within a target range, the air conditioner targeting a room in which the user is present. The image shows a motion and/or state of the user representing a hot or cold sensation of the user, and the estimation unit extracts the motion and/or state of the user from the image to estimate the thermal sensation.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes an air conditioner, a setting unit, a control unit and a learning unit. The air conditioner performs air conditioning in a room. The setting unit sets a first temperature and a second temperature. The first temperature is a target temperature for a first area in the room. The second temperature is a target temperature for a second area in the room. The control unit controls the air conditioner so that a temperature of the first area approaches the first temperature and a temperature of the second area approaches the second temperature. The learning unit learns control of the air conditioner so that the temperature of the first area approaches the first temperature and the temperature of the second area approaches the second temperature.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of members made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a bundling component. The bundling component includes a main body portion having an anchoring portion, and a band portion extending from the main body portion and having a section on an opposite side of a main body portion side anchored in the anchoring portion. The bundling component is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. At least part of the bundling component and at least part of the plurality of members are secured to each other with a brazing material interposed between the parts.

Abstract: An estimation unit estimates a thermal sensation representing how hot or cold a user feels based on an image of the user taken by a camera. A control unit controls an air-conditioning operation of an air conditioner based on an estimation result of the estimation unit so that the thermal sensation falls within a target range, the air conditioner targeting a room in which the user is present. The image shows a motion and/or state of the user representing a hot or cold sensation of the user, and the estimation unit extracts the motion and/or state of the user from the image to estimate the thermal sensation.

Abstract: A camera (26) takes an image of at least one user (U1, U2, U3). A room environment information sensor (13) senses room environment information relating to an environment of a room (r1) in which the at least one user (U1, U2, U3) is present. The estimator (66) estimates a drowsiness condition of the at least one user (U1, U2, U3) based on the image of the at least one user (U1, U2, U3) taken by the camera (26) and the room environment information sensed by the room environment information sensor (13).

Abstract: A camera takes an image of a user. A room environment information sensor detects room environment information about an environment in a. room where the user is present. An estimation unit estimates a concentration degree of the user based on the image of the user taken by the camera and the room environment information sensed by the room environment. information sensor.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of principal heat exchange sections and auxiliary heat exchange sections. Each of the auxiliary heat exchange sections is in series connection to a corresponding one of the principal heat exchange sections. Tube number ratios of the principal heat exchange sections are obtained by dividing the number of the flat tubes constituting each of the principal heat exchange sections to by the number of the flat tubes constituting a corresponding one of the auxiliary heat exchange sections. Of the principal heat exchange sections, the first principal heat exchange section, which is the lowermost one, has the smallest tube number ratio. Consequently, discharge of liquid refrigerant from a lower portion of the first principal heat exchange section is accelerated during defrosting, thereby shortening the time required for defrosting.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of principal heat exchange sections and auxiliary heat exchange sections. Each of the auxiliary heat exchange sections is in series connection to a corresponding one of the principal heat exchange sections. Tube number ratios of the principal heat exchange sections are obtained by dividing the number of the flat tubes constituting each of the principal heat exchange sections by the number of the flat tubes constituting a corresponding one of the auxiliary heat exchange sections. Of the principal heat exchange sections, the first principal heat exchange section, which is the lowermost one, has the smallest tube number ratio. Consequently, discharge of liquid refrigerant from a lower portion of the first principal heat exchange section is accelerated during defrosting, thereby shortening the time required for defrosting.

Abstract: In two heat exchange regions connected together in series when an outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, a downstream one of the heat exchange regions has heat exchange sections not less than heat exchange sections of an upstream one of the heat exchange regions, and a most downstream one of the heat exchange regions has more heat exchange sections than a most upstream one of the heat exchange regions.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of members made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a bundling component. The bundling component includes a main body portion having an anchoring portion, and a band portion extending from the main body portion and having a section on an opposite side of a main body portion side anchored in the anchoring portion. The bundling component is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. At least part of the bundling component and at least part of the plurality of members are secured to each other with a brazing material interposed between the parts.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes arranged one above the other, a plurality of fins connected to the flat tubes, a first header collecting pipe in which one end of each of the plurality of flat tubes is inserted, and a second header collecting pipe in which the other end of each of the plurality of flat tubes is inserted. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between a fluid flowing through the flat tubes and air outside the flat tubes. Each of the first and second header collecting pipes extends in a vertical direction. At least one of the first and second header collecting pipes comprises a communication space that communicates with an upstream side of the plurality of flat tubes when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. The communication space comprises a partition plate.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of principal heat exchange sections and auxiliary heat exchange sections. Each of the auxiliary heat exchange sections is in series connection to a corresponding one of the principal heat exchange sections. The number of the flat tubes constituting each of the heat exchange sections is compared to the number of the flat tubes constituting a corresponding one of the auxiliary heat exchange sections, creating a tube number ratio, wherein the first principal heat exchange section, which is lowermost, has the smallest tube number ratio. Consequently, discharge of liquid refrigerant from a lower portion of the first principal heat exchange section is accelerated during defrosting, thereby shortening the time required for defrosting.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of principal heat exchange sections and auxiliary heat exchange sections. Each of the auxiliary heat exchange sections is in series connection to a corresponding one of the principal heat exchange sections. Of tube number ratios of the number of the flat tubes constituting each of the heat exchange sections to the number of the flat tubes constituting a corresponding one of the auxiliary heat exchange sections, the first principal heat exchange sections which is the lowermost one has the smallest tube number ratio. Consequently, discharge of liquid refrigerant from a lower portion of the first principal heat exchange section is accelerated during defrosting, thereby shortening the time required for defrosting.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of principal heat exchange sections and auxiliary heat exchange sections. Each of the auxiliary heat exchange sections is in series connection to a corresponding one of the principal heat exchange sections. Of tube number ratios of the number of the flat tubes constituting each of the heat exchange sections to the number of the flat tubes constituting a corresponding one of the auxiliary heat exchange sections, the first principal heat exchange sections which is the lowermost one has the smallest tube number ratio. Consequently, discharge of liquid refrigerant from a lower portion of the first principal heat exchange section is accelerated during defrosting, thereby shortening the time required for defrosting.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes an aluminum heat exchanger, an aluminum gas pipe, an aluminum liquid pipe and a copper gas pipe. The aluminum heat exchanger performs heat exchange between air and a refrigerant, and is disposed upright. The aluminum gas pipe channels gas refrigerant, and extends from a side part of the aluminum heat exchanger. The aluminum liquid pipe channels liquid refrigerant, and extends from an area below the aluminum gas pipe in the side part of the aluminum heat exchanger. The copper gas pipe channels gas refrigerant. The aluminum gas pipe is connected in a connecting part to the copper gas pipe from above the copper gas pipe. The aluminum pipe is disposed in an area outside of directly under the connecting part of the aluminum gas pipe and the copper gas pipe.

Abstract: A lower space of a first header collecting pipe of a heat exchanger is, by partitions, divided into three communication chambers and a single mixing chamber. The mixing chamber communicates with the communication chamber through a through-hole of a lower horizontal partition, communicates with the communication chamber through a through-hole of a vertical partition, and communicates with the communication chamber through a through-hole of an upper horizontal partition. Gas-liquid refrigerant flows into the mixing chamber, and is mixed in the mixing chamber. Then, the refrigerant is distributed to the communication chambers. Thus, the wetness of refrigerant flowing into a flat tube is uniformized among the flat tubes, and performance of the heat exchanger can be fully achieved.

Abstract: A first header collecting pipe of an outdoor heat exchanger has three communication chambers and one mixing chamber. One auxiliary horizontal partition plate is disposed between two main horizontal partition plates. The mixing chamber is defined between the first main horizontal partition plate and the auxiliary horizontal partition plate. A gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator flows into the mixing chamber, and is then distributed to the three communication chambers. This structure allows the refrigerant that is to be distributed from the mixing chamber to the communication chambers to have a uniform wetness.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger, a principal windward heat exchange region includes a principal windward bank portion, a principal leeward heat exchange region includes a principal leeward bank portion, an auxiliary windward heat exchange region includes an auxiliary windward bank portion, and an auxiliary leeward heat exchange region includes an auxiliary leeward bank portion. Each of the principal and auxiliary bank portions is constituted of a plurality of flat tubes. In the heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator, a refrigerant flows sequentially through the auxiliary windward, auxiliary leeward, principal leeward, and principal windward bank portions. In the heat exchanger functioning as a condenser, a refrigerant flows sequentially through the principal windward, principal leeward, auxiliary leeward, and auxiliary windward bank portions. Consequently, the heat exchanger exhibits performance sufficient for functioning as both an evaporator and a condenser.